(O/T) The Anniversary NME's Top 50 list

If you can't wait until Wednesday (or Tuesday evening if you're in central London) NME.com has published a sneak preview of its Top 50 most influential artists of the last 50 years. However, this is not a Top 50 of the most influential artists of the last 50 years - it is a Top 50 of the artists who have influenced NME most in the last 50 years. If you think that sounds wrong, below are two parts of the story on the website:

"The list takes into account: Appearances on front covers. Volume and significance of features. Dominance of end of year writers polls. The response from our readers in the weekly letters page. The presence of their name and influence in the paper (e.g. the number of acts referred to as the new them, the endless questioning of other artists for their opinions of them, the terrible pun headlines on their name or song titles...). And the speed with which they took over."

"The top 10 is as follows: 10: Public Enemy 9: U2 8: Paul Weller/The Jam 7: Radiohead 6: Oasis 5: Sex Pistols 4: David Bowie 3: Stone Roses 2: The Beatles 1: The Smiths"

You can read the story in full at nme.com/news/101427.htm (sorry if that doesn't work as a link but I haven't worked out how to do that yet).

If you've got any opinions on this Top 10 or Top 50, post them here.

The NME really think they're onto something aren't they? Well blow me if I don't think they're the most self-satisfied, self-championing, smug, complacent, egotistical, elitist, and downright incontinent excuses for journalists I have ever come across. Would you abide by that list above there Fingers? In sincerely hope not!

I look forward to their next issue actually with a mixture of barely-concealed boredom and trepidation through gritted teeth.

[Yet another top 50 list is promptly shot down in flames by the Right Dishonourable Reverend His Royal Rantiness The Gray Martian]

I haven't looked at the list and tried to decide whether or not the ten acts on it deserve to be on it and if so if they should be in that order because I've been trying to work out why they bothered to compile the list.

A list of the 50 artists that had the most influence on the music scene in the last 50 years could have been interesting because those compiling it would have had to seek out the music's scene true innovators. For example, it is likely that The Beatles would feature highly on that list because a lot of artists have cited them as an influence but The Beatles were heavily influenced by Elvis Presley, Little Richard and other rock 'n' roll and R'n'B artists of the 1950's.

A list of the 50 artists that had the most influence on wider society in the last 50 years would have been very interesting because those compiling it would have had to look at life outside the music scene. A lot of artists have tried to change social attitudes or promote political policies using their lyrics or by their behaviour but did any of them actually succeed?

A list of the 50 artists that had the most influence on the NME seems pointless, especially given the way the NME has changed over the decades. Apart from The Beatles and possibly David Bowie all the artists in the top 10 are from the golden age of the British music press when the competition for readers was at its highest and those publications that failed to devote enough coverage to the bands that readers wanted to read about paid a penalty for it in sales lost to rivals. It's not a list of the best music: it's a list of the best music journalism or, more accurately, it's a list of lists.

I may look at the full list if it's published on the NME.com website or in a newsagents if this week's issue isn't in a plastic bag just to check that Nirvana, The Clash and the Manic Street Preachers are in the top 20 (I'd make more predictions but I can't be bothered). However, unless there are some promising interviews in it my £1.50 (or more if it's gone up for the second time in three weeks) will be going towards the new issue of Mojo containing interviews with all the members of The Stone Roses classic line-up.

Can anyone tell me who The Smiths actually influenced then to get such an accolade ?

the writers of nme? I mean they loved morrisey...

surely this list is the only one that is actually quantifiable & therefore the most accurate they will ever have done?

ok so its basically a waste of space in that it only tells you who they write about, but at least it can be proved! (public enemy seem inordinately high given their criteria though)

Originally posted by dave hibell the writers of nme? I mean they loved morrisey...surely this list is the only one that is actually quantifiable & therefore the most accurate they will ever have done?ok so its basically a waste of space in that it only tells you who they write about, but at least it can be proved!(public enemy seem inordinately high given their criteria though)

They so loved Public Enemy though - Nation of Millions and Fear of a Black Planet both won the annual sycophancy poll amongst the hacks. It was trendy to kow-tow to something different, they thought. Mark E.Smith had a rare visionary moment back in 1980 in "English Scheme", with the lines "condescends to black men, he's very nice to them....talks of Chile while driving through Haslingden...."

That's just about all the NME ever do and did.

Public Enemy the band the NME journos like to think they're hip enough to be big fans of, The Smiths the band they were actually big fans of, either that or the criteria they used meant naming a column Public NME scored extra points for Flav, Chuck, Griff and the boys. The criteria also seems to mean the 6 weeks they amused themselves with an internal debate over shaving Morriseys pits and putting him on the cover counts as infuential in their fooked up heads.

Public Enemy were actually hugely influenced by The Smiths. "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" is actually Chuck D's take on "This Charming Man."

Slightly O/T so bear with me..

Most paper based music publications have been rather superceded by their online cousins lately, i mean the quickest and most effective way to gain new information on a daily basis is via the net - i.e. imagine the drama we would all have finding out info on the Order if the knowledge wasnt shared round the world as it is.

Thus rags like NME for example are no longer as relevant as they were 10 or even 5 years ago.

Public Enemy were superb and influenced a whole set of new music particuarly the likes of jungle & big beat, and also in the dance arena. Shame they went rubbish about '94. The Smiths were a good - though in my opinion overrated band who loads of Britpoppers thought it'd be cool to namecheck.

I hate NME. Particuarly the way they give albums high marks and then slag off the singles. Wankers.

Originally posted by Gnu Odor Public Enemy were actually hugely influenced by The Smiths. "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" is actually Chuck D's take on "This Charming Man."

Yeah, I can see that......

I got a letter from the government The other day I opened and read it It said they were suckers They wanted me for their army or whatever Picture me given' a damn - I said never Here is a land that never gave a damn About a brother like me and myself Because they never did I wasn't wit' it, but just that very minute... It occured to me The suckers had authority Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell How long has it been? They got me sittin' in the state pen I gotta get out - but that thought was thought before I contemplated a plan on the cell floor I'm not a fugitive on the run But a brother like me begun - to be another one Public enemy servin' time - they drew the line y'all To criticize me some crime - never the less They could not understand that I'm a Black man And I could never be a veteran On the strength, the situation's unreal I got a raw deal, so I'm goin' for the steel

    They got me rottin' in the time that I'm servin'
    Tellin' you what happened the same time they're throwin'
    4 of us packed in a cell like slaves - oh well
    The same motherfucker got us livin' is his hell
    You have to realize - what its a form of slavery
    Organized under a swarm of devils
    Straight up - word'em up on the level
    The reasons are several, most of them federal
    Here is my plan anyway and I say
    I got gusto, but only some I can trust - yo
    Some do a bid from 1 to 10
    And I never did, and plus I never been
    I'm on a tier where no tears should ever fall
    Cell block and locked - I never clock it y'all
    'Cause time and time again time
    They got me servin' to those and to them
    I'm not a citizen
    But ever when I catch a C-O
    Sleepin' on the job - my plan is on go-ahead
    On the strength, I'ma tell you the deal
    I got nothin' to lose
    'Cause I'm goin' for the steel

    You know I caught a C-O
    Fallin' asleep on death row
    I grabbed his gun - then he did what I said so
    And everyman's got served
    Along with the time they served
    Decency was deserved
    To understand my demands
    I gave a warnin' - I wanted the governor, y'all
    And plus the warden to know
    That I was innocent -
    Because I'm militant
    Posing a threat, you bet it's fuckin' up the government
    My plan said I had to get out and break north
    Just like with Oliver's neck
    I had to get off - my boys had the feds in check
    They couldn't do nuthin'
    We had a force to instigate a prison riot
    This is what it takes for peace
    So I just took the piece
    Black for Black inside time to cut the leash
    Freedom to get out - to the ghetto - no sell out
    6 C-Os we got we ought to put their head out
    But I'll give 'em a chance, cause I'm civilized
    As for the rest of the world, they can't realize
    A cell is hell - I'm a rebel so I rebel
    Between bars, got me thinkin' like an animal
    Got a woman C-O to call me a copter
    She tried to get away, and I popped her
    Twice, right
    Now who wanna get nice?
    I had 6 C-Os, now it's 5 to go
    And I'm serious - call me delirious
    But I'm still a captive
    I gotta rap this
    Time to break as time grows intense
    I got the steel in my right hand
    Now I'm lookin' for the fence

    I ventured into the courtyard
    Followed by 52 brothers
    Bruised, battered, and scarred but hard
    Goin' out with a bang
    Ready to bang out
    But power from the sky
    And from the tower shots rang out
    A high number of dose - yes
    And some came close
    Figure I trigger my steel
    Stand and hold my post
    This is what I mean - an anti-nigger machine
    If I come out alive and then they won't - come clean
    And then I threw up my steel bullets - flew up
    Blew up, who shot...
    What, who, the bazooka was who
    And to my rescue, it was the S1Ws
    Secured my getaway, so I just gotaway
    The joint broke, from the black smoke
    Then they saw it was rougher thatn the average bluffer
    'Cause the steel was black, the attitude exact
    Now the chase is on tellin' you to c'mon
    53 brothers on the run, and we are gone

And in this charming car......

To the tune of Bring Tha Noize:

Chuck DWill never mean shit to mostBut man he once was a hero to me...But talking head puppet That sucker he dug his own graveMotherf@#% him and Flavor Flav

Copyright © 2002 Gnu Odor Productions.

Originally posted by Zizou Zidane > Originally posted by Gnu Odor> Public Enemy were actually hugely influenced by The Smiths. "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" is actually Chuck D's take on "This Charming Man.">

Yeah, I can see that......

I got a letter from the government The other day I opened and read it It said they were suckers etc

thats kind of

"I like walking in the park" ish only he goes on a bit more doesn't he!

Originally posted by Fingers ..I've been trying to work out why they bothered to compile the list.

Surely it's foremostly an act of nostalgic self-aggrandising.

:\pimp2:

Originally posted by Zizou Zidane > Originally posted by Gnu Odor> Public Enemy were actually hugely influenced by The Smiths. "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" is actually Chuck D's take on "This Charming Man.">

Yeah, I can see that......

I got a letter from the government The other day I opened and read it It said they were suckers They wanted me for their army or whatever Picture me given' a damn - I said never Here is a land that never gave a damn About a brother like me and myself Because they never didThey got me sittin' in the state pen I gotta get out - but that thought was thought before I contemplated a plan on the cell floor I'm not a fugitive on the run But a brother like me begun - to be another one Public enemy servin' time - they drew the line y'all To criticize me some crime - never the less I wasn't wit' it, but just that very minute... It occured to me The suckers had authority Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell How long has it been? They got me sittin' in the state pen I gotta get out - but that thought was thought before I contemplated a plan on the cell floor I'm not a fugitive on the run But a brother like me begun - to be another one Public enemy servin' time - they drew the line y'all To criticize me some crime - never the less They could not understand that I'm a Black man And I could never be a veteran On the strength, the situation's unreal I got a raw deal, so I'm goin' for the steel

    They got me rottin' in the time that I'm servin'
    Tellin' you what happened the same time they're throwin'
    4 of us packed in a cell like slaves - oh well
    The same motherfucker got us livin' is his hell
    You have to realize - what its a form of slavery

You know I caught a C-O Fallin' asleep on death row I grabbed his gun - then he did what I said so And everyman's got served Along with the time they served Decency was deserved To understand my demands I gave a warnin' - I wanted the governor, y'all And plus the warden to know That I was innocent - Because I'm militant Organized under a swarm of devils Straight up - word'em up on the level The reasons are several, most of them federal I contemplated a plan on the cell floor I'm not a fugitive on the run But a brother like me begun - to be another one Public enemy servin' time - they drew the line y'all To criticize me some crime - never the less They could not understand that I'm a Black man And I could never be a veteran On the strength, the situation's unreal I got a raw deal, so I'm goin' for the steel

    They got me rottin' in the time that I'm servin'
    Tellin' you what happened the same time they're throwin'
    4 of us packed in a cell like slaves - oh well
    The same motherfucker got us livin' is his hell
    You have to realize - what its a form of slavery
    Here is my plan anyway and I say
    I got gusto, but only some I can trust - yo
    Some do a bid from 1 to 10
    And I never did, and plus I never been
    I'm on a tier where no tears should ever fall
    Cell block and locked - I never clock it y'all
    'Cause time and time again time
    They got me servin' to those and to them
    I'm not a citizen

4 of us packed in a cell like slaves - oh well The same motherfucker got us livin' is his hell You have to realize - what its a form of slavery Organized under a swarm of devils Straight up - word'em up on the level But ever when I catch a C-O Sleepin' on the job - my plan is on go-ahead On the strength, I'ma tell you the deal I got nothin' to lose 'Cause I'm goin' for the steel

    You know I caught a C-O
    Fallin' asleep on death row
    I grabbed his gun - then he did what I said so
    And everyman's got served
    Along with the time they served
    Decency was deserved
    To understand my demands
    I gave a warnin' - I wanted the governor, y'all
    And plus the warden to know
    That I was innocent -
    Because I'm militant
    Posing a threat, you bet it's fuckin' up the government
    My plan said I had to get out and break north
    Just like with Oliver's neck
    I had to get off - my boys had the feds in check
    They couldn't do nuthin' 4 of us packed in a cell like slaves - oh well
    The same motherfucker got us livin' is his hell
    You have to realize - what its a form of slavery
    Organized under a swarm of devils
    Straight up - word'em up on the level
    We had a force to instigate a prison riot
    This is what it takes for peace

But I'm still a captive I gotta rap this Time to break as time grows intense I got the steel in my right hand Now I'm lookin' for the fence So I just took the piece Black for Black inside time to cut the leash Freedom to get out - to the ghetto - no sell out 6 C-Os we got we ought to put their head out But I'll give 'em a chance, cause I'm civilized As for the rest of the world, they can't realize A cell is hell - I'm a rebel so I rebel Between bars, got me thinkin' like an animal Got a woman C-O to call me a copter She tried to get away, and I popped her Twice, right Now who wanna get nice? I had 6 C-Os, now it's 5 to go And I'm serious - call me delirious But I'm still a captive I gotta rap this Time to break as time grows intense I got the steel in my right hand Now I'm lookin' for the fence

    I ventured into the courtyard
    Followed by 52 brothers
    Bruised, battered, and scarred but hard
    Goin' out with a bang
    Ready to bang out
    But power from the sky
    And from the tower shots rang out
    A high number of dose - yes
    And some came close
    Figure I trigger my steel
    Stand and hold my post
    This is what I mean - an anti-nigger machine
    If I come out alive and then they won't - come clean
    And then I threw up my steel bullets - flew up
    Blew up, who shot...

Now who wanna get nice? I had 6 C-Os, now it's 5 to go And I'm serious - call me delirious But I'm still a captive I gotta rap this Time to break as time grows intense I got the steel in my right hand Now I'm lookin' for the fence
Now who wanna get nice? I had 6 C-Os, now it's 5 to go And I'm serious - call me delirious But I'm still a captive I gotta rap this Time to break as time grows intense I got the steel in my right hand Now I'm lookin' for the fence What, who, the bazooka was who To understand my demands I gave a warnin' - I wanted the governor, y'all And plus the warden to know That I was innocent - Because I'm militant Posing a threat, you bet it's fuckin' up the government My plan said I had to get out and break north And to my rescue, it was the S1Ws Secured my getaway, so I just gotaway The joint broke, from the black smoke Then they saw it was rougher thatn the average bluffer 'Cause the steel was black, the attitude exact Now the chase is on tellin' you to c'mon 53 brothers on the run, and we are gone

And in this charming car......

Blimey, you DO have a lot of spare time on your hands Zizou.... :D